Egyptian ambassador reflects on time spent in Indonesia<\/p>\n
On the occasion of Egypt's 48th national day on July 23, The
\nJakarta Post's Kosasih Deradjat recently interviewed outgoing
\nEgyptian envoy Abdel Rahim Shalaby, who has been posted in
\nJakarta for two and a half years. An excerpt of the interview
\nfollows:<\/p>\n
Question: It was in Cairo when former Indonesian president
\nSoeharto disclosed for the first time his intention to resign.
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid also visited Egypt shortly after he
\ncame to power. What comprises the most significant ties between
\nthe two countries?<\/p>\n
Answer: Even before Indonesia's general election, we organized
\na trip for Abdurrahman Wahid to Egypt to meet high ranking
\nofficials of the University of Al-Azhar in Cairo. Mr. Abdurrahman
\nhas told me personally how close he feels to Egypt and Egyptian
\npeople. On both sides, there have always been efforts to improve
\nties.<\/p>\n
Not just in recent years. Egypt has for a long time been a
\ngood friend of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
These relations go back since Indonesia declared its
\nindependence in 1945. Since the very beginning Egypt was the
\nfirst country to recognize the newly independent state. Even two
\ndays before Indonesia declared its independence (on Aug. 17) the
\nEgyptian foreign minister and an Indonesian founding father, Agus
\nSalim, agreed to announce Egypt's acknowledgement of Indonesia's
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Before that there were people-to-people contacts, Indonesian
\nstudents studying in Cairo, Egyptian ulemas coming to Indonesia
\nand merchants who first came here 400 to 500 years ago.<\/p>\n
What is the most significant improvement in the ties during
\nyour term?<\/p>\n
The development of economic ties, diplomatic ties and trade
\nvolume reaching about US$250 million per year. Although Indonesia
\nis suffering an economic crisis there has been an upward trend
\nduring the first six months of this year. There has been an eight
\npercent increase in trade (between the two countries) during the
\nperiod, with surplus for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Two visits were made by President Abdurrahman to Cairo; once
\none month before the general elections in 1999 and then recently
\nwhen he attended the G15 summit (of developing countries).<\/p>\n
We are seeking cooperation in other fields now, in addition to
\nthose that have gone well in the political, cultural, economic,
\neducational, and trade sector.<\/p>\n
There has always been political cooperation between high
\nranking officials in the Non-Aligned Movement, the G15, and
\nmeetings of the Organization of Islamic Conference.<\/p>\n
After the G15 meeting in Cairo, President Hosni Mubarak gave
\ninstructions to the Egyptian economic team to increase trade with
\nG15 member countries. He mentioned in particular Indonesia,
\nMalaysia and India.<\/p>\n
President Mubarak has presented President Abdurrahman a piece
\nof land, free of charge, at a free-trade zone east of the Suez
\nCanal for Indonesia to enlarge Indonesian exports to Africa,
\nMiddle East and Europe.<\/p>\n
During your term you have witnessed the historical change of
\npower in Indonesia and the misery of the people in this economic,
\npolitical and social crises. What have your impressions been?<\/p>\n
I have had ... a bonus of 30 years experience (in) foreign
\nservice. Maybe a lot of people would think they have seen
\neverything. But I have to admit I have had quite a lot of
\nexperience here in only two and half years. It is what others and
\nmyself rightly call a unique experience.<\/p>\n
Being here in Indonesia at the time and seeing these changes
\nin one of the world's largest Muslim countries has been very,
\nvery important for Egypt in terms of bilateral relations and
\ncoordination on general policies covering most global issues.<\/p>\n
(I witnessed) the change to democracy, the events in East
\nTimor, the presidential election, and the parliamentary election
\nto which I was appointed by my colleagues as an observer.<\/p>\n
As a fellow member of the OIC what has Egypt done for the
\ncrisis here?<\/p>\n
Of course we sympathize a lot with Indonesia in all the
\nproblems it encounters. If you are referring to the problems in
\nMaluku or in Aceh or Irian Jaya, of course (we are) in defending
\npositions that recognizes Indonesia's sovereignty over those
\nterritories, and we hope Indonesia is able to solve the problems
\nwithin the context of conciliation and peaceful dialog and
\ncompromise.<\/p>\n
What is your comment on Abdurrahman's earlier statement that
\nhe would establish diplomatic ties with Israel?<\/p>\n
I do not think President Abdurrahman is going to establish
\ndiplomatic relations with Israel. What he spoke about is to have
\nofficial trade relations with Israel. It is not up to me as an
\nambassador of Egypt or anyone else to question the sovereignty of
\nIndonesia to make its own decision.<\/p>\n
But my impression is that the President, the government, the
\nIndonesian ministry of foreign affairs, the Indonesian public at
\nlarge, and most legislators which represent various political
\ngroupings have decided that maybe this (official ties with
\nIsrael) is not the right time. So it is not diplomatic relations
\nthat the President spoke about.<\/p>\n
How do you see the peacemaking process in the Middle East
\nbetween Israel and Palestine, and between Israel, Syria and
\nLebanon?<\/p>\n
We hope the negotiations, including those going on in Camp
\nDavid ... will succeed.<\/p>\n
The key factor is in the Madrid Conference for Peace (October
\n1991) about the exchange of land for peace. If we are to live in
\npeace in the Middle East then Israel simply has to give back all
\nof the land it took in 1967. It has to abide by international
\nlaws as represented in the relevant Resolution of the United
\nNations.<\/p>\n
Egypt is the first country to achieve peaceful relations with
\nIsrael (in 1977) without having to relinquish any territory. This
\nis the right for other Arab parties as well.<\/p>\n
But at the same time I would like to underline the declaration
\nby President Hosni Mubarak made a few weeks ago which affirmed
\nthat Egypt is going to recognize a Palestine state either as the
\nproduct of the agreement or as a unilateral declaration.<\/p>\n
If you were the Indonesian president what would you do?<\/p>\n
That is one of the most difficult jobs in the world right now.
\nAnd I do not think any diplomat or politician envies this
\nsituation .... not just regarding the President but of all the
\nleaders ... Democracy is not only (about) the president ... It
\nis a difficult situation but of course I hope that Indonesia's
\nleadership will always find the right thing to do according to
\nIndonesia's interest and the wishes of its people.<\/p>\n
What do you like and dislike from Indonesia?<\/p>\n
I like a lot of things in Indonesia but mainly the Indonesian
\npeople themselves. I have been here for some time and never at a
\nsingle moment, when dealing with officials or other people, have
\nI felt as a foreigner.<\/p>\n
What I do not like from Indonesia ... maybe the humidity. I am
\nnot very much used to humidity. But I have grown accustomed to
\nit. I can manage it now.<\/p>",
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